I was disappointed that the professor's of the schools didn't have quests at the beginning that sent the student to a world from where the professor;s came from, and the portrait would be the means of getting there.
Course the quests would have to be easy, but this would serve as a training ground before the player actually starts.
In addition, I am surprised that when the quests are over, that all the monsters don't disappear from the scene, as a response to their boss being defeated.